Waitrose, Dump Shell!

We love Waitrose.As far as a supermarket can be, Waitrose is at the ethical vanguard: from low carbon emissions to fairtrade and local products, right through to its model of worker co-ownership and shared profits, it is clear shopping at Waitrose is one way to love the planet.But one thing about Waitrose is breaking our hearts. It’s struck up a new partnership with Shell - the oil company responsible for human rights abuses and massive oil spills in the Niger Delta, skyrocketing carbon emissions (they’ve pulled every single investment in sustainable renewable energy sources) and one of the companies scrambling for the Arctic. Shell and Waitrose are in the first phases of this unfortunate affair, which so far has seen two Little Waitrose convenience branches open on existing Shell forecourts. Shell continues to own the sites and Waitrose takes over the operation of each, acting as Shell’s agents for the sale of fuels. Shell and Waitrose have also embarked on a joint marketing campaign, including “save 5p per litre on 25 litres of Shell fuel” coupons given to Waitrose customers at the till.How well does this sit with the John Lewis Partnership “responsibilities”: “We care about the environment. We make every effort to reduce our impact on the environment and to promote good environmental practice.“?A study undertaken by the Eccumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility comments that frequent oil spills, poorly executed clean-ups and unfair compensation of the local Ogoni people, the exclusion of public scrutiny from Environmental Impact Assessments and gas flaring constitute ‘a daily reminder to communities of Shell’s apparent valuing of production above environmental and public health concerns’.John Bullock, Executive Vice President of Shell Global Retail Business comments “We see this as the beginning of a strong relationship”, and Melanie Lane, Shell UK retail general manager, believes that the brands are “complimentary”. Climate Rush are here to let people know that they are not!We've got all kinds of actions up our sleeves to get Waitrose to dump Shell! Tell Waitrose to end this bad romance with our series of #dumpshell tweets.@waitrose are you caught in a bad romance? #dumpShell @waitrose – you will survive without Shell #goonwalkoutthatdoor #dumpShell @waitrose – break up with Shell, find an ethical replacement! #tothelefttotheleft #dumpShell @waitrose – Cry me an oil spill. You don’t have to say what you did, I already know, I found out from Shell #dumpShell @waitrose –I’d like to help you in your struggle to be free #50waystoleaveShell #dumpShell @waitrose – I heard that you’ve settled now, that you found Shell and you’re married now. What happened to us? #sometimesithurtsinstead #dumpShell @waitrose – don’t marry Shell, have me! #dumpShell #shellishell @waitrose stop lovin’ Shell #dumpShell @waitrose I can’t believe you’re cheating on me with Shell! #dumpShell @waitrose When love is Shell, it is not love #dumpShell